Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Directed by George Lucas
Lucas Films LTD. (2002)

The galaxy is in crisis and only the Jedi knights can help remedy the situation in the fifth instalment in the Star Wars Trilogy, a movie that sets up the final instalment to be released in 2006.

The movie takes place 12 years after the last movie. It is the dawn of the Clone Wars and the galaxy is in turmoil. A group of systems has broken away from the Galactic Republic, calling them the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They wish to be free of the corrupted senate. After an assassination attempted made by the Confederacy, Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) has asked for protection. The Jedi council has enlisted Obi-Wan Kenobi and his padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker. Ewan McGregor returns as Obi-Wan, and Canadian born actor Hayden Christensen plays the doomed Anakin Skywalker.

There were some pretty interesting details, Yoda's character was computer generated, but you can be easily fooled if you are watching the series for the first time. The duels were very well done, as the handling was very swordsman like. Christopher Lee, who plays Count Dooku, is a natural swordsman. He played many roles that deal with sword play, so it was fitting for him, as he knew how to hold a lightsaber, and use it.

Hayden did a very good job playing his role. Because the future of this movie has already been written, he knew how to play the role. You can tell that Anakin is slowly turning evil as his facial expression tells that well. Ewan's acting was very well done; he provided a little comic relief at times. Christopher Lee has a habit of playing the villain. His latest role was the evil Saruman in the Lord of the Rings series, so you know that he is right for the role as 2nd prime bad guy, next to the mysterious Darth Sidious.

George Lucas knows how to tell a legend. It places a young child who turns out to be the most evil man alive. He doesn't just put this in play; he develops the character to that point. It also takes a group similar to King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, and adds a little science fiction to it. You don't see magic and iron swords, but swords made of energy, and a living energy field that drives the universe. Very well done.

John Williams, who has composed in all of the Star Wars films, composed the soundtrack once again. He gives the movie an opera feel to it. He knows where to put the music and at what time.

There were a lot of symbolism here, one being Anakin's shadow appearing to be his future self Darth Vader, also the duel between the evil Count Dooku, and Anakin had a very interesting feature, when Anakin cut the lights, the colour of their blades flashed on their faces, Dooku's blade was red, while Anakin's was blue, symbolizing the struggle between light and dark. The SFX well done, the space scenes were interesting and the duels were fantastic.

If you are a Star Wars fan, get this movie, if not, get it anyway. Lucas continues to dazzle his fans with a fairytale movie. Although receiving some sharp criticism from movie critics, this movie blasts all their criticism away. This will not disappoint.